25$ 'Verf:6. An Expofitiön upon the Bookof J O B. Chap. 2. dinary favour in times ofcommon danger to have your lives for a prey; you comps ine for this lofs and that lots, and you have .caufe too, but think wiihall that you have ycur lives. And why is it faid,that they thould have their lives for a prey?A prey you know properly is that which we take out of the hand ofan enemie, that which was in his poffellion ; the lives of thofe perfons were faid to be given to them for a prey, in thofe perilous times , becaufe God by his care and providence did (as it were) fetch back their lives from the hand of the enemie : their lives innatural reafon were in their enemies hands, but God undertakes to fetch themback, and recover them out of their hands ,. and fo they were promifed to have their lives for a prey. Thus God giveth tomanyof his peo- ple their lives for a prey; and they are to biefs God in this behalf, . whatfoever affliCions and troubles are upon them, that yet they have their lives. L.aftly , we may hence raife our meditations to confider the wonderful loveof God to us in Chrift: when God fent Chrift in- to the world to rave (inners , he put him into the hands of Satan. and his inflruments; yet he doth not fay (as here) to Satan, Save his life;Afïlid him as thou wilt,perfecute him inhis cradle,defpife him, flander him, revile him; accule him, crown his head with thornes, feourge him,buffet him, (pit in his face, &c. butfave his life ; No, this bound is not fit to the malice ofSatan or the rage of men,God gives them leave to take life and all. Concerning his fervant Job,God laid to Satan, Spare lois life; but when he fendeth his Son, he gives no order to have him fpared, but gives his cruel enemies full (cope. How wonderful is the love ofGod, who for . our fakes was fo expenfive of his Sons life; when as he thus fpared the life ofa fervant ? IfSatan had been chained up from taking the life of Chrik,he had beenat liberty to triumph over our lives, toall eternity. We had all died,ifgod had laid to Satan concern- ing Chrift, save his life. Thus we fee the commiflîon ofSatan againft Yob, and the limi- tation of it. Satan was not tied upfo (hart as he was in the former,. Chapter, and yet 01 he is tied.Therehe might meddlewith Jobs efaate, but not with his body; here he maymeddle with his body, but not with his life :. Though God lengthen Satans chain,yet he never let. Satan loofe; though he be at more liberty then before yet he is in cuftody;there is a But of reftriCion upon him itill.It is 'our comfort.that though Satan (as Ehilofophcrs (peak of liquids, seater,
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